Saul's Attempts on David's Life Lesson Text: I Samuel 19:8-17 · Related Scriptures: I Samuel 18:1-19:24; Psalms 34:19-22; 59:1-17

TIME: around 1021 s.c. PLACE: Gibeah GOLDEN TEXT -"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).

Lesson 'E?(position DANGER OF A JEALOUS KING­ Saul's murderous intentions toward I Sam. 19:8-10 David. David's popularity (I Sam. 19:8). As While David was playing his lyre for last week's lesson ended, David had Saul in the king's house, "Saul sought defeated the giant Goliath and quickly to smite David even to the wall with the rose to prominence in Israel. Conse­ javelin" (I Sam. 19:10) he was holding. quently, "Saul set him over the men of Young and quick, David was able to war, and he was accepted in the sight elude Saul's spear and escape death. of all the people" (18:5). Before long, This was not the first time this had oc-,, · however, Saul realized that David was curred (I Sam.18:10-11). �; now more popular than he was in the kingdom. DELIVERANCE THROUGH A In the meantime, David had become WINDOW-I Sam. 19:11-12 fast friends with Jonathan, Saul's We do not know whether David re­ son (I Sam. 18:1-4). Although Jona­ alized how serious Saul was about than was next in line for the throne, killing him. Perhaps David thought he he seemed to have no concern about would be safe in his own home and David's purported ambitions to be that Saul would get over his mental king. Moreover, David married Saul's instability. daughter, Michal. Saul, permitted the Saul, however, was . serious about marriage because he thought Michal his intentions to kill his son-in-law. would be a "snare to him" (vs. 21 ), He sent servants to David's house to though exactly in what way we are try and make sure David did not get not told. away. These messengers of the king · Saul's melancholy (I Sam. 19:9- planned to kill David in the morning 10). We now discover something else and watched the door of the residence about King Saul that helps us under­ to make sure David did not leave the stand why he hated David. Saul was city. afflicted by an "evil spirit," and this Michal somehow became aware of was not the first time he had been so the plot against her husband. Michal afflicted (18:10). We know that this took this warning seriously and said evil spirit was the inspiration behind to David, "If thou save not thy life to